Alfred pratel



(No Model.)

A. PRAT-EL. MEANS FOR EXHIBITING GOODS.

No. 443,664. Patented Dec. 30, 1 890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED PRATEL, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR EXHIBITING GOODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 3,664, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed July 9,1890. Serial No. 358,140. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED PRATEL, of New York, in' the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Exhibiting Goods, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means whereby goodssuch as woolen clothinay be exhibited in swatches, so that one after another of the pieces of the swatch may be exhibited, in order to give an approximate idea of the appearance that such goods will have when made up into garments.

In carrying out my improvement I employ a model which may be and preferably is made of metal, but might be made of other suitable material. This model has an openiiig cut therein,the margin of which opening corresponds to the outline of the garment which it is desired to represent.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the exhibiting device in detail. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same attached to the cover of a trunk in the position which it assumes in exhibiting the goods; and Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the exhibiting device,trunk-cover,and a part of the body of the trunk.

A designates a piece of goods, which may be one of a number, arranged in swatches, and may be of any desired pattern. I have shown buttons a secured upon the pieces of goods in such position that when the exhibiting device is laid over a piece of goods the buttons will occupy the position on the goods seen through the opening in the exhibiter which they would occupy on the made-up garment.

B designates the main frame of the exhibiting device. It is preferably formed, as herein shown, of thin metal plate, and provided with a central opening through which the goods are exhibited, the said central opening being provided with a margin 1) corresponding to the outline of a coat or other garment to be exhibited. To one edge of the frame B a pair of arms C are hinged, the said arms 0 being of such size and shape in crosssection as to extend through strap-sockets D on the side of the trunk-coverE. The trunkcover E is preferably, for purposes of use in connection with this exhibiting device,hinged to one end of the trunk body F, as shown at f, so that one end may be lifted from the trunk-body, causing the top of the cover to assume a slanting direction in a position to conveniently display to a person sitting in a chair at the hinged end of the trunk-cover the goods which may be spread upon the inclined top of the cover.

In use the swatch of goods and the exhibiting device having been taken from the trunk and the cover set in an oblique position, the arms C on the exhibiting device are inserted in the sockets D at the side of the cover, the main body of the frame is raised from or thrown over away from the top of the cover, and the swatch of goods laid out smoothly on the top of the cover. The first pattern may then be exhibited by folding the exhibitor frame over onto the swatch. \Vhen this has been exhibited, the frame may be again raised, the pattern already exhibited thrown off, and the frame again swung into position on the swatch to exhibit the second pattern.

This may be followed until all of the pat-' terns-fifty, more or lesshave been exhibited, when the frame may be raised from the cover, the swatch and frame folded and placed in the trunk, and the cover secured to the trunk ready for shipment.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The herein-described exhibiting device, consisting of a frame having cut therein an opening the margin of which corresponds in shape to the outline of a garment, the said frame being provided at its edge with arms hinged thereto for securing the frame to a suitable support, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a trunk-cover and means for supporting the cover in a slanting position, the said cover being provided with sockets on its side, of an exhibiting device provided with an opening corresponding to the shape of a completed garment, and arms hinged to the edge of the frame and adapted to enter the sockets at the side of the cover, substantially as set forth.

ALFRED PRATEL. Witnesses:

HENRY BAOHRUCH, M onnnn RYAN. 

